Rajnath asks Kerala government to end political killings

Kannur (Kerala): Kerala government must end political violence in the state, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said even as he indicated that the growth of BJP could be the reason behind the killings of Sangh Parivar activists in the state.

"State government should take strong action. State government must try to end the environment of fear. There should be an environment where people fearlessly live in Kerala and work fearlessly," he said.

Singh is in Kannur to visit the family of K Manoj, an RSS activist, who was killed allegedly by CPI(M) members early this month.

The Home Minister said the state government must make an honest assessment on why these political killings were taking place, what were the reasons and give assurance that such types of violence would not take place in future.

"Problem of violence must be resolved. Freedom of speech, freedom of religious practice and freedom of political activities must be ensured. State government must take action on it. I want to assure the state government that whatever assistance will be required, the Central government will provide," he said.

Asked whether the growth of BJP and other organizations could be the reason behind the killing of Sangh Parivar members, Singh said "that possibility cannot be ruled out."

The Home Minister said the Central government was concerned over the political killings in Kerala as well as in West Bengal.

Describing the killing of Manoj as ‘very unfortunate’, the Home Minister said, “No political ideology could be suppressed by violence and one should counter any political ideology only through another ideological view and not through gun or violence.”

"We have to take action to check the political violence. All political parties must come on board and oppose the killing of innocent people," he added.